Systems and gaming devices for indicating comp eligibility
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A player comp system, comprising:
- a gaming device, comprising;
a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance;
a user interface device configured to receive input from the player to enable the player to play the game of chance;
at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance maintained at the gaming device; and
a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits from the gaming device;
a player comp indicator coupled to the gaming device, the comp indicator configured to display a comp eligibility status for the player;
a computer coupled to the gaming device by a network, the computer programmed to;
store data indicative of at least one comp eligibility criterion;
calculate a number of comp eligibility points based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion;
determine the comp eligibility status for the player based on the comp eligibility points, wherein the comp eligibility status indicates whether the player is eligible for at least one comp based on the number of accumulated comp eligibility points being greater than a threshold value; and
communicate data to the comp indicator over the network to enable display of the comp eligibility status for the player based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the accumulated comp eligibility points, wherein the computer is further programmed to require approval to award the at least one comp if the number of comp eligibility points is greater than the threshold but less than a second threshold value, and to award the comp without approval if the comp eligibility points exceed the second threshold value.
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Abstract
A player comp system and method may include a gaming device having a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player. A player comp indicator provides a notification output based on a signal received from a remote computer that calculates comp eligibility points based on gameplay data and at least one comp eligibility criterion. The comp indicator may provide a visual notification, such as a light, LED, or a voucher or ticket provided to the player or an attendant.
235 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A player comp system, comprising:
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a gaming device, comprising; a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance; a user interface device configured to receive input from the player to enable the player to play the game of chance; at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance maintained at the gaming device; and a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits from the gaming device; a player comp indicator coupled to the gaming device, the comp indicator configured to display a comp eligibility status for the player; a computer coupled to the gaming device by a network, the computer programmed to; store data indicative of at least one comp eligibility criterion; calculate a number of comp eligibility points based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion; determine the comp eligibility status for the player based on the comp eligibility points, wherein the comp eligibility status indicates whether the player is eligible for at least one comp based on the number of accumulated comp eligibility points being greater than a threshold value; and communicate data to the comp indicator over the network to enable display of the comp eligibility status for the player based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the accumulated comp eligibility points, wherein the computer is further programmed to require approval to award the at least one comp if the number of comp eligibility points is greater than the threshold but less than a second threshold value, and to award the comp without approval if the comp eligibility points exceed the second threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A player comp system, comprising:
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a gaming device, comprising; a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance; a user interface device configured to receive input from the player to enable the player to play the game of chance; at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance maintained at the gaming device; and a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits from the gaming device; a player comp indicator coupled to the gaming device, the comp indicator configured to display a comp eligibility status for the player; a computer coupled to the gaming device by a network, the computer programmed to; store data indicative of at least one comp eligibility criterion; calculate a number of comp eligibility points based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion; determine the comp eligibility status for the player based on the comp eligibility points, wherein the comp eligibility status indicates whether the player is eligible for at least one comp based on the number of accumulated comp eligibility points being greater than a threshold value; and communicate data to the comp indicator over the network to enable display of the comp eligibility status for the player based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the accumulated comp eligibility points, wherein the gaming device comprises one of a plurality of gaming devices within a gaming establishment, and wherein the computer is further programmed to reset the comp eligibility points to zero after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the player last wagered any amount on any of the plurality of gaming devices.
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11. A player comp system, comprising:
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a gaming device, comprising; a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance; a user interface device configured to receive input from the player to enable the player to play the game of chance; at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance maintained at the gaming device; and a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits from the gaming device; a player comp indicator coupled to the gaming device, the comp indicator configured to display a comp eligibility status for the player; a computer coupled to the gaming device by a network, the computer programmed to; store data indicative of at least one comp eligibility criterion; calculate a number of comp eligibility points based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion; determine the comp eligibility status for the player based on the comp eligibility points, wherein the comp eligibility status indicates whether the player is eligible for at least one comp based on the number of accumulated comp eligibility points being greater than a threshold value; and communicate data to the comp indicator over the network to enable display of the comp eligibility status for the player based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the accumulated comp eligibility points, wherein the gaming device comprises one of a plurality of gaming devices within a gaming establishment, and wherein the computer is further programmed to decrease the comp eligibility points in response to determining that the player has not placed a wager at any of the plurality of gaming devices for a predetermined amount of time.
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12. A player comp system, comprising:
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a gaming device, comprising; a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance; a user interface device configured to receive input from the player to enable the player to play the game of chance; at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance maintained at the gaming device; and a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits from the gaming device; a player comp indicator coupled to the gaming device, the comp indicator configured to display a comp eligibility status for the player; a computer coupled to the gaming device by a network, the computer programmed to; store data indicative of at least one comp eligibility criterion; calculate a number of comp eligibility points based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion; determine the comp eligibility status for the player based on the comp eligibility points, wherein the comp eligibility status indicates whether the player is eligible for at least one comp based on the number of accumulated comp eligibility points being greater than a threshold value; and communicate data to the comp indicator over the network to enable display of the comp eligibility status for the player based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the accumulated comp eligibility points, wherein the gaming device comprises one of a plurality of gaming devices within a gaming establishment, and wherein the computer is further programmed to decrease the comp eligibility points in response to determining that the player has not placed a wager at any of the plurality of gaming devices for a predetermined amount of time only if the comp eligibility points are less than an inactivity threshold.
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13. A player comp system, comprising:
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a gaming device, comprising; a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance; a user interface device configured to receive input from the player to enable the player to play the game of chance; at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance maintained at the gaming device; and a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits from the gaming device; a player comp indicator coupled to the gaming device, the comp indicator configured to display a comp eligibility status for the player; a computer coupled to the gaming device by a network, the computer programmed to; store data indicative of at least one comp eligibility criterion; calculate a number of comp eligibility points based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion; determine the comp eligibility status for the player based on the comp eligibility points, wherein the comp eligibility status indicates whether the player is eligible for at least one comp based on the number of accumulated comp eligibility points being greater than a threshold value; and communicate data to the comp indicator over the network to enable display of the comp eligibility status for the player based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the accumulated comp eligibility points, wherein the computer is further programmed to set the comp eligibility points to a predetermined initial value prior to the player initiating gameplay on the gaming device, and reset to the initial value after determining that at least one comp has been redeemed by the player.
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14. A player comp system, comprising:
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an electronic gaming machine, comprising; a processor configured to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance; a user interface configured to receive input to enable the player to place a wager and play the game of chance; at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance to enable the player to play the game of chance; a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits from the electronic gaming machine; and a player comp indicator configured to display a comp eligibility status for the player; and a computer capable of communicating with the electronic gaming machine over a network, the computer configured to; receive at least a portion of the gameplay data from the electronic gaming machine over the network; store data indicative of at least one comp eligibility criterion; calculate a number of comp eligibility points associated with the player based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the gameplay data received from the electronic gaming machine; determine the comp eligibility status for the player based on the number of comp eligibility points, wherein the comp eligibility status indicates whether the player is eligible for at least one comp based on the number of comp eligibility points being greater than a threshold value; and communicate data to at least one of the electronic gaming machine and the comp indicator over the network to enable display of the comp eligibility status for the player by the comp indicator based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the number of comp eligibility points, wherein the computer is further configured to decrease the number of comp eligibility points based on elapsed time after a wager by the player at any one of a plurality of designated electronic gaming machines. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A player comp system, comprising:
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an electronic gaming machine, comprising; a processor configured to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance; a user interface configured to receive input to enable the player to place a wager and play the game of chance; at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance to enable the player to play the game of chance; a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits from the electronic gaming machine; and a player comp indicator configured to display a comp eligibility status for the player; and a computer capable of communicating with the electronic gaming machine over a network, the computer configured to; receive at least a portion of the gameplay data from the electronic gaming machine over the network; store data indicative of at least one comp eligibility criterion; calculate a number of comp eligibility points associated with the player based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the gameplay data received from the electronic gaming machine; determine the comp eligibility status for the player based on the number of comp eligibility points, wherein the comp eligibility status indicates whether the player is eligible for at least one comp based on the number of comp eligibility points being greater than a threshold value; and communicate data to at least one of the electronic gaming machine and the comp indicator over the network to enable display of the comp eligibility status for the player by the comp indicator based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the number of comp eligibility points, wherein the computer is further configured to decrease the number of comp eligibility points based on elapsed time between wagers placed by the player at the electronic gaming machine.
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22. A player comp system, comprising:
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an electronic gaming machine, comprising; a processor configured to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance; a user interface configured to receive input to enable the player to place a wager and play the game of chance; at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance to enable the player to play the game of chance; a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits from the electronic gaming machine; and a player comp indicator configured to display a comp eligibility status for the player; and a computer capable of communicating with the electronic gaming machine over a network, the computer configured to; receive at least a portion of the gameplay data from the electronic gaming machine over the network; store data indicative of at least one comp eligibility criterion; calculate a number of comp eligibility points associated with the player based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the gameplay data received from the electronic gaming machine; determine the comp eligibility status for the player based on the number of comp eligibility points, wherein the comp eligibility status indicates whether the player is eligible for at least one comp based on the number of comp eligibility points being greater than a threshold value; and communicate data to at least one of the electronic gaming machine and the comp indicator over the network to enable display of the comp eligibility status for the player by the comp indicator based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the number of comp eligibility points, wherein the computer is further configured to decrease the number of comp eligibility points based on inactivity of the player unless a total number of comp eligibility points exceeds an inactivity threshold.
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23. A player comp system, comprising:
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an electronic gaming machine, comprising; a processor configured to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance; a user interface configured to receive input to enable the player to place a wager and play the game of chance; at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance to enable the player to play the game of chance; a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits from the electronic gaming machine; and a player comp indicator configured to display a comp eligibility status for the player; and a computer capable of communicating with the electronic gaming machine over a network, the computer configured to; receive at least a portion of the gameplay data from the electronic gaming machine over the network; store data indicative of at least one comp eligibility criterion; calculate a number of comp eligibility points associated with the player based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the gameplay data received from the electronic gaming machine; determine the comp eligibility status for the player based on the number of comp eligibility points, wherein the comp eligibility status indicates whether the player is eligible for at least one comp based on the number of comp eligibility points being greater than a threshold value; and communicate data to at least one of the electronic gaming machine and the comp indicator over the network to enable display of the comp eligibility status for the player by the comp indicator based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the number of comp eligibility points, wherein the computer is further configured to decrease the number of comp eligibility points based on inactivity of the player unless player loyalty points exceed a corresponding threshold.
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24. A player comp system comprising:
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a gaming device having a processor programmed to present a game of chance to a player, at least one display, at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance maintained at the gaming device, at least one player input device configured to place a wager on the game of chance presented at the gaming device, at least one output device configured to deliver a physical item to the player based on gameplay of the game of chance presented at the gaming device, a player comp indicator configured to provide an indication that a player comp is available in response to a signal received from a remote computer over a network, the remote computer configured to generate the signal in response to comp eligibility calculations based on gameplay data received from the gaming device meeting at least one eligibility criterion associated with at least one player comp, wherein the comp indicator or the remote computer is further configured to decrease the number of comp eligibility points based on elapsed time after a wager by the player. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification